Religion in the Republic of Ireland

Life in Ireland

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The predominant religion in the Republic of Ireland is Christianity, with the largest church being the Roman Catholic Church. The Irish constitution says that the state may not endorse any particular religion and guarantees freedom of religion.

In 2011, 84.2% of the population identified themselves as Roman Catholic, 2.6 percentage points less than 5 years earlier, although the number of Catholics increased by 179,889.[1] The second largest Christian denomination, the Church of Ireland (Anglican), declined in membership for most of the twentieth century, but has more recently experienced an increase, as have other small Christian denominations. Other significant Protestant denominations are the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, followed by the Methodist Church in Ireland. The country's Hindu and Muslim populations have experienced significant growth in recent years, due chiefly to immigration.[2]

In the 2011 census, 7.6% of the population had no religion or did not indicate a religious belief.[1] Researchers debate the relative significance of secularisation as a general feature of Irish society,[3] the interpretation of census results[4] and the extent to which religious syncretism is becoming more widespread.[5]

Politics

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland (part of the Anglican Communion).

Originally, the 1937 Constitution of Ireland gave the Catholic Church a "special position" as the church of the majority, but also recognised other Christian denominations and Judaism. As with other predominantly Catholic European states, the Irish state underwent a period of legal secularisation in the late twentieth century. In 1972, the article of the Constitution naming specific religious groups, including the Catholic Church, was deleted by the fifth amendment of the constitution in a referendum.

Article 44 remains in the Constitution. It begins:

The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion.

The article also establishes freedom of religion (for belief, practice, and organisation without undue interference from the state), prohibits endowment of any particular religion, prohibits the state from religious discrimination, and requires the state to treat religious and non-religious schools in a non-prejudicial manner.

Education

Despite a large number of schools in Ireland being run by religious organizations but funded by the state, a general trend of secularism is occurring within the Irish population, particularly in the younger generations.[6] Many efforts have been made by secular groups to eliminate the rigorous study in the second and sixth classes, to prepare for the sacraments of Holy Communion and confirmation in Catholic schools. Parents can ask for their children to be excluded from religious study if they wish. However, religious studies as a subject was introduced into the state administered Junior Certificate in 2001; it is not compulsory and deals with aspects of different religions, not focusing on one particular religion. Schools run by religious organisations, but receiving public money and recognition, cannot discriminate against pupils based upon religion or lack thereof. A sanctioned system of preference does exist, where students of a particular religion may be accepted before those who do not share the ethos of the school, in a case where a school's quota has already been reached.

Christianity

Saint Patrick, shown here preaching to kings, was a Romano-Briton Christian missionary and is the most generally recognised patron saint of Ireland.
Irish Christian bodies
Irish Interchurch

Church of Ireland (Anglican)
Association of Baptist Churches
Roman Catholicism
Assemblies of God
Elim Pentecostal Church
Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Christianity is the largest religion in the Republic of Ireland based on baptisms. Irish Christianity is dominated by the Roman Catholic Church which has 84.2% of the population as followers. Most churches are organized on an all-Ireland basis which includes both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Irish travellers have traditionally adopted a very particular attitude to the Catholic Church, with a focus on figures such as "healing priests".[7] More generally a tradition of visions continues, often outside of Church sanction.[8]

Evangelical movements have recently spread both within the established churches and outside them.[9] Celtic Christianity has become increasingly popular, again both within and outside established churches.[10]

The patron saints of Ireland for Catholics and Anglicans are Saint Patrick, Saint Bridget and Saint Columba. Saint Patrick is the only one of the three who is commonly recognised as the patron saint. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland and abroad on 17 March.

Eastern Orthodoxy in Ireland is represented mainly by recent immigrants from Eastern European countries, such as Romania, Russia, or Ukraine, and accounts for 1% of the population.

Church attendance

Church attendance in the Republic of Ireland
Year % of weekly church attendance in Republic of Ireland[11][12][13]
1973 91 91
 
1984 87 87
 
1985 85 85
 
1990 85 85
 
1990 81 81
 
1991 79 79
 
1995 64 64
 
1996 66 66
 
1998 60 60
 
2002 48 48
 
2003 50 50
 
2005 34 34
 
2005 44 44
 
2006 48 48
 
2007 67 67
 
2007-2008 42 42
 
2008 45 45
 
2009 46 46
 
Church attendance among Irish Roman Catholics
Year % of weekly church attendance among Irish Roman Catholics[14][15]
1972-1973 91 91
 
1981 87 87
 
1988-1989 87.6 87.6
 
2006 56 56
 
2007-2008 44 44
 
2010 45.2 45.2
 
2011 30 30
 

According to a Georgetown University study, the country also has one of the highest rates of regular Mass attendance in the Western World.[16] While daily Mass attendance was 13% in 2006 there had been a reduction in weekly attendance from 81% to 48% between 1990 and 2006, although the decline was reported as leveling off.[17] In the 1970s a survey had given figures at 91%.[18] In 2011, it was reported that weekly Mass attendance in Dublin was on average 18%, with it being lower among younger generations and in some areas less than 2%.[19][20] A 2012 survey of Irish Catholics undertaken by the Association of Catholic Priests found the weekly mass attendance rate to be 35% on an all-island basis, while daily mass attendance was reported at 3%.[21]

No religion

A 2006 Dentsu poll found that 7% of Ireland had no religion. According to Greeley (2003), 5% of those in Ireland do not believe in God, but only 2% accept the self-identification of “atheist.” According to Ingelhart et al. (2004) and Davie (1999), 4% of the Irish do not believe in God.[22]

In a 2007-2008 Gallup Poll, 42% of Ireland answered no to the question "Does religion occupy an important place in your life?" and in the 2011 Gallup, 53% of Ireland answered no.

A 2010 Bishops Conference survey found that 10.1% of Irish Roman Catholics did not believe in God.[23]

According to a 2012 WIN-Gallup International poll, Ireland had the second highest decline in religiosity from 69% in 2005 to 47% in 2012, while those who considered themselves not a religious person increased 25% in 2005 to 44% in 2012. The poll also showed that 10% of Ireland now consider themselves convinced atheists, which is an increase from 2005.[24]

Other religions

Judaism

The earliest recorded presence of Jews in Ireland was in 1079 in the Annals of Inisfallen.[25] As of 2011, the Jewish population is 1,984.[26]

Islam

Main article: Islam in Ireland

There are 49,204 adherents (1.06%) of Islam in Ireland as of 2011. Irish Islam has a long and complex organisational history.[27] Islamic new religious movements such as Fethullah Gulen are also represented in Ireland.[28]

Buddhism

The population of Buddhists in Ireland is 8,703 (0.19%). Irish Buddhists such as U Dhammaloka are recorded from the late nineteenth century on, with numbers growing particularly in the 21st century. Beyond formal membership in Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana and Western Buddhist groups, there is increasing syncretism, with self-identified Christians and others using Buddhist meditation techniques, Buddha images, texts by figures such as the 14th Dalai Lama and so on.[29] Reputed links between Buddhism and Celtic religion have long played a role in Irish literature.[30]

Hinduism

The spread of Hinduism in Ireland is increasing. The 2011 Irish Census reports 10,688 Hindus resident in Ireland, more than triple the number in 2000 (when 3,099 Hindus were recorded).[26]

Neo-paganism

Various Neopagan movements are active in Ireland, especially Wicca, Neo-druidry and Celtic Polytheism.[31] Ireland is also a significant point of reference for various kinds of Celtic [32] and other neo-pagan spirituality and religious practice around the world, such as the Fellowship of Isis.[33]

New Age

New Age religious movements are becoming increasingly significant in Ireland,[34] often as a form of syncretism for members of established religions. Participation is strongly gendered, with a high proportion of women.[35] A typical example is A course in miracles.[36]

Demographics

Census Information

Religions in the Republic of Ireland, 2011[1]

  Roman Catholicism (84.2%)
  Church of Ireland (2.8%)
  Orthodox Christianity (1%)
  Other Christian (1.7%)
  Islam (1.1%)
  Other religion (0.8%)
  No religion (6.1%)
  Undeclared (1.6%)
The percentage of respondents who said they followed a religion other than Catholicism in the census in Ireland in 2011.
The percentage of respondents who said they had no religion in the census in Ireland in 2011.

Between 2006 and 2011, Roman Catholics decreased as a percentage of the population, but still showed a robust increase in absolute numbers due both to an excess of births over deaths as well as immigration from countries such as Poland. Most recently, Protestantism, including the Church of Ireland, has experienced a slight decrease in percentage, despite having earlier experienced some recovery. Those declaring no religion, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Islam showed significant increases. The results of the 2011 census were as follows:[1]

 Religions in the Republic of Ireland, 2006, 2011[37]
Religion Number 2006 Percent 2006 Number 2011 Percent 2011
Christian religions[tabnote 1] 3,922,386 92.51 4,149,665 90.44
Roman Catholic 3,681,446 86.83 3,861,335 84.16
Church of Ireland 121,229 2.86 129,039 2.81
Orthodox 20,798 0.49 45,223 0.99
Presbyterian 23,546 0.56 24,600 0.54
Apostolic/Pentecostal 8,116 0.19 14,043 0.31
Methodist 12,160 0.29 6,842 0.15
Jehovah's Witness 5,252 0.12 6,149 0.13
Lutheran 5,279 0.12 5,683 0.12
Protestant 4,356 0.10 5,326 0.12
Evangelical 5,276 0.12 4,188 0.09
Baptist 3,338 0.08 3,531 0.08
Latter Day Saints (Mormon) 1,237 0.03 1,284 0.03
Quaker (Society of Friends) 882 0.02 925 0.02
Plymouth Brethren 365 0.01 336 0.01
Other Christian religions 29,206 0.69 41,161 0.90
Non-Christian religions[tabnote 1] 57,838 1.36 87,157 1.90
Islam 32,539 0.77 49,204 1.07
Hinduism 6,082 0.14 10,688 0.23
Buddhist 6,516 0.15 8,703 0.19
Judaism 1,930 0.05 1,984 0.04
Pagan/Pantheist 1,691 0.04 1,940 0.04
Bahá'í 504 0.01 520 0.01
Other religions 8,576 0.20 14,118 0.31
Non-religious (inc. lapsed, atheist, agnostic)[tabnote 1] 189,302 4.46 278,516 6.07
No Religion 186,318 4.39 269,811 5.88
Atheist 929 0.02 3,905 0.085
Agnostic 1,515 0.04 3,521 0.08
Lapsed Roman Catholic 540 0.01 1,279 0.03
Not answered 70,322 1.66 72,914 1.59
Total 4,239,848 100 4,588,252 100
Notes
  1. 1 2 3 The subdivisions, Christian religions, Non-Christian religions, Non-religious were not in the original data. The results for not answered were not included in any subdivision.

Eurobarometer Polls

According to a 2010 Eurobarometer Poll,[38]

According to a 2012 Eurobarometer Poll when people were shown a card listing options for religious identification: [39]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Table 36: Persons, male and female, classified by religious denomination with actual percentage change, 2006 and 2011" (PDF). This is Ireland, Highlights from Census 2011, Part 1. Central Statistics Office. p. 104. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Final Principal Demographic Results 2006 (PDF). Central Statistics Office. 2007. pp. 31 (Table Q). ISBN 0-7557-7169-9. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  3. ↑ Kuhling, Carmen, "New Age re-enchantment in post-Celtic Tiger Ireland". 201 - 219 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  4. ↑ Macourt, Malcolm, "Mapping the 'new religious landscape' and the 'new Irish': uses and limitations of the census". 28 - 50 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  5. ↑ Cosgrove, Olivia et al., "Editors' introduction". 1 - 27 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  6. ↑ Among many examples:
    John Daniszewski, 17 April 2005, Catholicism Losing Ground in Ireland, LA Times
    Irish poll shows parents no longer want to force religion on to children from secularism.org.uk
    Phil Lawler, 17 September 2007, Ireland threatened by secularism, Pope tells new envoy, Catholic World News
  7. ↑ Brownlee, Attracta, "Irish travellers and 'powerful priests'. 97 - 110 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  8. ↑ Mulholland, Peter, "Marian apparitions, the New Age and the FAS prophet". 53 - 73 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  9. ↑ Jackson Noble, Ruth, "The changing face of Irish Christianity". 131 - 146 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011
  10. ↑ Gierek, Bozena, "Celtic spirituality in contemporary Ireland". 300 - 317 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  11. ↑ http://www.spiritans.com/layspiritansireland.htm
  12. ↑ http://knowyourfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/mass-appeal-church-attendance-in_20.html
  13. ↑ http://www.religioustolerance.org/index_tren.htm
  14. ↑ http://ionainstitute.net/assets/files/Press_Release_by_The_Iona_Institute_2Nov2009-1.pdf
  15. ↑ http://www.ionainstitute.ie/assets/files/Attitudes%20to%20Church%20poll.pdf
  16. ↑ Weekly Mass Attendance of Catholics in Nations with Large Catholic Populations, 1980-2000 – World Values Survey (WVS)
  17. ↑ Irish Mass attendance below 50% – Catholic World News 1 June 2006
  18. ↑ "Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review". Studiesirishreview.ie.
  19. ↑ http://www.dublindiocese.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2293&Itemid=372
  20. ↑ Irish Times - Fewer than one in five attend Sunday Mass in Dublin (30 May 2011)
  21. ↑ Contemporary Catholic Perspectives (PDF). Association of Catholic Priests. 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  22. ↑ http://www.atheism.ru/library/phil_1.phtml
  23. ↑ http://www.catholicbishops.ie/wp-content/uploads/images/stories/cco_publications/researchanddevelopment/evs_4th_wave_report.pdf
  24. ↑ Atheists Rally On National Mall retrieved 2012-10-05
  25. ↑ Unknown. Annals of Inisfallen.
  26. 1 2 McGarry, Patsy (March 30, 2012). "Ireland remains overwhelmingly Catholic". The Irish Times. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  27. ↑ Scharbrodt, Oliver, "Islam in Ireland". 318 - 336 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  28. ↑ Lacey, Jonathan, "Turkish Islam in Ireland". 337 - 356 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  29. ↑ Cox, Laurence and Maria Griffin, "The Wild Irish Girl and the 'dalai lama of Little Thibet': the long encounter between Ireland and Asian Buddhism". 53 - 73 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  30. ↑ Murphy, John L, "Inventing the concept of Celtic Buddhism". 74 - 96 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  31. ↑ Butler, Jenny, "Irish neo-paganism". 111 - 130 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  32. ↑ Cusack, Carole, "Celticity in Australian alternative spiritualities". 281 - 299 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  33. ↑ Maignant, Catherine, "Irish base, global religion: the Fellowship of Isis". 53 - 73 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  34. ↑ Kuhling, Carmen, "New Age re-enchantment in post-Celtic Tiger Ireland". 201 - 219 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  35. ↑ O'Connor, Ciara, "Becoming whole". 220 - 239 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  36. ↑ Bradby, Ruth, "A course in miracles in Ireland". 147 - 162 in Olivia Cosgrove et al. (eds), Ireland's new religious movements. Cambridge Scholars, 2011; ISBN 978-1-4438-2588-7
  37. ↑ "CD753: Percentage Change in Population by Sex, Religion, CensusYear and Statistic". Central Statistics Office. Republic of Ireland. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  38. ↑ "Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, page 204" (PDF). Fieldwork: Jan-Feb 2010. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ↑ "DISCRIMINATION IN THE EU IN 2012" (PDF). Fieldwork: June 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
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